Ashaway 100% Zyex monofilament

Anyone tried this one? Ashaway used to make a MonoGut - same name as this new string - but it was not a zyex string. Their Dynamite line, which has been out forever, uses many smaller strands of zyex surrounded by a nylon braid for durability. They apparently figured out how to make a string with just one big strand of pure zyex.

Zyex as a material is softer (less stiff) and more elastic (thus more powerful) than nylon. It's about midway between natural gut and nylon in terms of both those characteristics.

Anyone tried this one? Ashaway used to make a MonoGut - same name as this new string - but it was not a zyex string. Their Dynamite line, which has been out forever, uses many smaller strands of zyex surrounded by a nylon braid for durability. They apparently figured out how to make a string with just one big strand of pure zyex.

Zyex as a material is softer (less stiff) and more elastic (thus more powerful) than nylon. It's about midway between natural gut and nylon in terms of both those characteristics.

Anyone tried this one? Ashaway used to make a MonoGut - same name as this new string - but it was not a zyex string. Their Dynamite line, which has been out forever, uses many smaller strands of zyex surrounded by a nylon braid for durability. They apparently figured out how to make a string with just one big strand of pure zyex.

Zyex as a material is softer (less stiff) and more elastic (thus more powerful) than nylon. It's about midway between natural gut and nylon in terms of both those characteristics.

I've used the Klippermate Zyex string. Its an interesting string. Its power is kind of inversely proportional to how fast you swing. In other words, a slow swing gives you power, but the power drops off the faster you swing. I really like Ashaway Dynamite. It seems like the nylon outer wrap maintains more of the power on faster swings. In my opinion you do not have to string it 10-20% lower. Maybe 5%.

I found the string to be very comfortable in a Zyex/poly hybrid.
It does feel different than the the original Ashway Zyex or the Tough in black which felt like the original silver.
Yes Zyex has been a high price string but the strings plays really well for a longer time than other multis in my experience.
My customers who use this tend to be older flat hitting players.

I found the string to be very comfortable in a Zyex/poly hybrid.
It does feel different than the the original Ashway Zyex or the Tough in black which felt like the original silver.
Yes Zyex has been a high price string but the strings play really well for a longer time than other multis in my experience.
My customers who use this tend to be older flat hitting players.

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How is the durability, spin and string movement with this in the mains and poly in the crosses compared to, say, gut/poly.

I'm a fan of the Ashaway Zyex strings. They have great spin and feel but the negatives currently prevent it from being a regular string for me.

The original Dynamite had severe initial tension loss plus excessive string movement. You could string it up lower for the first session or you could string it up tighter for subsequent sessions - pick your poison.

With the current Dynamite and Dynamite Soft, the tension loss is better but somewhat still there. The string movement problem remains and the feel is improved. However, I managed to break a set in 2 hours...

Haven't tried the new Dynamite Tough set but will do so. Definitely will try the Zyex Monogut whenever TW gets around to carrying it. I think I used a set of the original Monogut way back but cannot for the life of me remember what it felt like.

I'm a fan of the Ashaway Zyex strings. They have great spin and feel but the negatives currently prevent it from being a regular string for me.

The original Dynamite had severe initial tension loss plus excessive string movement. You could string it up lower for the first session or you could string it up tighter for subsequent sessions - pick your poison.

With the current Dynamite and Dynamite Soft, the tension loss is better but somewhat still there. The string movement problem remains and the feel is improved. However, I managed to break a set in 2 hours...

Haven't tried the new Dynamite Tough set but will do so. Definitely will try the Zyex Monogut whenever TW gets around to carrying it. I think I used a set of the original Monogut way back but cannot for the life of me remember what it felt like.

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recall it being low cost, stretchy, decent comfort but not great on control.

Interesting idea. I liked the feel of the old Dynamite, but it wore through very quickly for me. I'd be interested to hear how it works in a hybrid to soften up a string bed.

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Dynamite has a very high friction srface so it chews itself up in a full bed. I'm curious how it rides as a main with a slick poly cross. And this 100% style sounds like it might be worth a try as a gut replacement too.

Had a guy testing and he absolutely loved this string as a replacement for BB Original. He said it had much greater feel and rip on the ball. Only downside is it seems to break a hell of a lot easier on shanks in comparison to the Original.

One of my best experiences with strings was with Ashaway Dynamite, this string pockets the ball like nothing else but........the string does not last enough and moves like crazy. I couldn't stand the way this string moves all around.
I hope this new Zyex string from Ashaway keeps the best characteristics of the old Dynamite and most of all stays in place

One of my best experiences with strings was with Ashaway Dynamite, this string pockets the ball like nothing else but........the string does not last enough and moves like crazy. I couldn't stand the way this string moves all around.
I hope this new Zyex string from Ashaway keeps the best characteristics of the old Dynamite and most of all stays in place

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Yeah, it would be great if it stayed in place as a full bed, but I'm thinking it would probably require a poly cross - if that worked it might be the ultimate poor man's Fed setup.

I put Zyex Monogut in my crosses with Dynamite 17 (the green stuff) in the mains last night.

Holding Zyex Monogut in my hands, it feels like a poly. When I went to prestretch it pulled like a thick nylon, but strung up like a poly. I'm hoping Ashaway considers changing the color. The baby poop brown is not that appealing.

Actually . . . It reminded me a lot of Lux Supersense. I'm hoping it plays softer and more lively than Supersense!

Hey Frido, I've never tried them. But I'm glad to hear that they do have incredible feel. That makes them an even better gut mains replacement! Are you using them in a full bed?

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No, I'm not using them anymore. I played for a while coming back to tennis from my tennis elbow injury. I played them in full bed in a PK Ki5, this string has in my opinion his unique feel and pockets the ball like no other.
I've never played with natural gut, but I guess is the type of feel Dynamite provides.
On the bad side, the strings move like crazy. I couldn't stand that at all, and that's why I did not play with them any longer. The other negative aspect is that the outer layer peels off in hours leaving exposed dozens of filaments until the strings break.
I would love to know if they addressed and fix these problems with the newer version of it.

No, I'm not using them anymore. I played for a while coming back to tennis from my tennis elbow injury. I played them in full bed in a PK Ki5, this string has in my opinion his unique feel and pockets the ball like no other.
I've never played with natural gut, but I guess is the type of feel Dynamite provides.
On the bad side, the strings move like crazy. I couldn't stand that at all, and that's why I did not play with them any longer. The other negative aspect is that the outer layer peels off in hours leaving exposed dozens of filaments until the strings break.
I would love to know if they addressed and fix these problems with the newer version of it.

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Ah, you're talking about Dynamite. This thread is about Ashaway's new 100% zyex monofilament, which does not have the braided nylon out wrap that peels and frays so badly. Dynamite has lots of individual strands of zyex twisted together and then wrapped with the nylon braid. This new string is one single strand of zyex.

No, I'm not using them anymore. I played for a while coming back to tennis from my tennis elbow injury. I played them in full bed in a PK Ki5, this string has in my opinion his unique feel and pockets the ball like no other.
I've never played with natural gut, but I guess is the type of feel Dynamite provides.
On the bad side, the strings move like crazy. I couldn't stand that at all, and that's why I did not play with them any longer. The other negative aspect is that the outer layer peels off in hours leaving exposed dozens of filaments until the strings break.
I would love to know if they addressed and fix these problems with the newer version of it.

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I've tried plenty of "gut like" synthetic strings. One that feels like gut does not exist yet that I can tell.

^ I tried plenty of strings too, I did not have the intention to mislead the readers.....that's what I said "I've never played with gut", but these strings are very different in terms of feel from the rest I've tried.
Mikeler thanks for your knowledgeable opinion.

^ I tried plenty of strings too, I did not have the intention to mislead the readers.....that's what I said "I've never played with gut", but these strings are very different in terms of feel from the rest I've tried.
Mikeler thanks for your knowledgeable opinion.

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I have not tried anything from Ashaway yet so I can't comment on this string. You would never confuse any synthetic string with gut is what I was trying to convey. Mantis Comfort synthetic is as soft but the power level is WAY lower.

To me, this string played like any soft poly. Very Very similar to a Polyfibre or MSV string.

I have a torn TFCC (look it up). I need a soft string bed, I was hoping for a nice control string that didn't make my wrist hurt.

Zyex Monogut is not it. To mention the word "gut" in the description of this string, should be criminal.

. . . Bud

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What tension did you try, as ZYEX needs to be strung low, 20 kg for the mains, 1.20 poly @22 kg in my 110 Speedports.
The use of MONOGUT was a poor one as the MONOGUT poly was one string of theirs I could not stand. There is no need to confuse customers with a recycled name in the crowded string market.

What tension did you try, as ZYEX needs to be strung low, 20 kg for the mains, 1.20 poly @22 kg in my 110 Speedports.
The use of MONOGUT was a poor one as the MONOGUT poly was one string of theirs I could not stand. There is no need to confuse customers with a recycled name in the crowded string market.

I may try it before you but will wait to report till you have reported :razz:

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Just don't forget what you think about it. Knowing me it will take quite a bit.
My drawer is full of strings I want to try but just can't seem to do it...
On my list there is a hybrid - kevlar 1,10mm mains and Tecnifibre TGV 1,25mm crosses and similarly to the Ashaway Zyex MonoGut it will have to wait.

To me, this string played like any soft poly. Very Very similar to a Polyfibre or MSV string.

I have a torn TFCC (look it up). I need a soft string bed, I was hoping for a nice control string that didn't make my wrist hurt.

Zyex Monogut is not it. To mention the word "gut" in the description of this string, should be criminal.

. . . Bud

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I agree it is not as soft as any multifilament. Though it is somewhat softer and definitely more resilient than co-poly monofilaments. Just slightly, slightly softer than co-polys such as Polyfibre Black Venom.

I've tried two and they're better than the nylon synthetics I've tried. Judging by your response you still think anecdotal testimonial is all-important. It's amusing that your "Mikeler's multis" topic, which is supposedly such a treasure trove of information doesn't even have your take on such an old and yet compelling string tech, let alone the recent varieties. Dynamite debuted how long ago?

If your topic is truly going to be some sort of replacement for the discussion of TW's scientific testing that you helped shut down then you have a responsibility to at least come up with some testimonial.

As for the much complained about Dynamite coating issue, given that the last set of WB 16 lasted me an entire season of competitive singles and doubles before the coating loss became a significant factor, the limitations of anecdote are obvious. A friend of mine who has been using the string has found the life comparable to NRG-2 and the feel comparable to Babolat 15 gauge gut.

Since I don't have a lot of money to throw around and rarely break strings (Wilson Sensation aside), and since I don't blithely dismiss TW's and RSI's tests (on the contrary, I've found their stiffness measurements to be very useful) — I'm not going to give you a lot of testimonial comparison. I will say that Dynamite is the best synthetic I've tried and that the 16 is better than the 17, probably because of reduced string movement.

One thing I can say that isn't addressed by the TW and RSI tests is that the crosses shred before the mains, perhaps because speedy stringers burn the strings when pulling them.

The best Zyex string you'll experience is the one you test, since you haven't tested any of them.

To me, this string played like any soft poly. Very Very similar to a Polyfibre or MSV string.

I have a torn TFCC (look it up). I need a soft string bed, I was hoping for a nice control string that didn't make my wrist hurt.

Zyex Monogut is not it. To mention the word "gut" in the description of this string, should be criminal.

. . . Bud

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Plenty of stiff nylon strings are called "gut" and they can run into soft poly territory, depending upon the tension.

The abuse of the name gut is nothing new, but at least Dynamite (verified by TW, RSI and my experience) is gut-like at lower tensions. Prince's so-called Synthetic Gut is garbage when compared with real gut.

Mike, I've been using the Ashaway Dynamite Soft 17 for a year or so now and really have no negative issues with it. As a full bed it does tend to move and saw itelf, so I use it in my mains (generally at 48) with syn gut crosses (at 52) and have no problems with durability or movement ..... but then I am a pretty flat hitter. It has become my "go to" string (despite its garish color).